The biggest news in club football at this time revolves around Tottenham Hotspur, when the London team officially appointed Roberto De Zerbi on a 5-year contract, replacing Igor Tudor - who was only in office for 6 weeks.
De Zerbi, who is free after leaving Marseille in February, will face an extremely difficult task. Tottenham is struggling in the relegation race in the Premier League, only 1 point ahead of the relegation group when the season has 7 rounds left.
I am very happy to join a great club, one of the biggest and most prestigious teams in the world. I believe in their ambition and long-term commitment to turn that into reality" - De Zerbi shared.
The Italian strategist becomes Spurs' third coach in the 2025-2026 season, after Thomas Frank (missed in February) and Tudor - who did not win a single match in 5 Premier League rounds before being sacked.
Why did Tottenham choose De Zerbi?
According to sources, De Zerbi was originally a priority target for Tottenham's long-term plan from the summer. The "Roosters" even approached him immediately after firing Frank, but at that time the Italian captain was not ready to take the job immediately, forcing Spurs to temporarily choose Tudor.
Even before that, Tottenham's leadership had built a set of criteria for the new coach: developing young players, good communication and building an attractive playing style. These are the strengths that helped De Zerbi succeed at Brighton.
Sporting director Johan Lange also emphasized the philosophy of controlling the ball, imposing the game and playing proactively - which is suitable for De Zerbi's style.
However, in the immediate future, all philosophies must give way to the survival goal of relegation. Spurs only have 7 matches left to avoid the disaster of falling to the Championship.
Signing a long-term contract with De Zerbi brings stability that the team is lacking after continuous changes. Players, who were influenced by two different philosophies under Frank and Tudor, can now work under a clear direction.
In addition, early appointment helps Tottenham be more proactive in the transfer market, as De Zerbi can assess the squad and identify targets suitable for his philosophy.
However, the risk is also very high. Spurs are recording a loss of nearly £95 million and a net debt of over £831 million, while the squad needs to be strongly restructured.
Besides, De Zerbi is famous for his strong personality, having conflicts with leaders and requesting deep intervention in transfers - which could cause internal turmoil.
De Zerbi's appointment also faced reactions from a part of fans, related to his views on Mason Greenwood during his time working in Marseille.
Although Spurs have carefully considered this issue and still decided to proceed, this is still a sensitive factor in the context that the club needs solidarity to overcome a difficult period.
Tottenham believes that De Zerbi can bring a clear direction - something they have lacked for a long time. The 5-year contract, without relegation clauses, shows great confidence from both sides.
But reality is very harsh. If Spurs do not stay in the league, all long-term plans may collapse immediately. De Zerbi came not only to save a season, but to reshape Tottenham's future. And in the current context, it is a true gamble.
